Alex's Birth Day

Evan, 3 months

Alex, 3 months

Evan, 6 months

Alex, 6 months

Evan, 9 months

Alex, 9 months

Evan, 1 year

Alex, 1 year

Evan, 18 months

Alex, 18 months

Evan, 2 years

Evan, 3 years

Friday, August 31, 2007

Today my wonderful husband has his Golden Birthday....He is 31 on the 31st!

Dear Mike,

5 years ago today your birthday present was when you asked me to be your wife...

"The one thing I really wanted for my birthday that would make me the happiest man in the world would be if you would promise to spend the rest of your life with me" ...and the iciing on the cake was when I said yes. :)

So today, on our 5 year anniversary of that day, I am saying YES again....

Yes, I am so glad that I met you, got engaged, and married all within 6 months

Yes, you make my life complete

Yes, you still make me smile from across the room when I see your face or if I hear your name

Yes, I love you....not for what anyone thinks you should be, but for what you are, what you strive to be, and what you always will be...

Yes, some days are better than others...but I wouldn't trade them for anything

Yes, you have a way of making good times better just by being there

Yes, you are the love of my life

Yes, you are still a dreamer and a romantic and you overwhelm me with happiness

Yes, I still thank God for you everyday

Yes, I am still crazy about you and I am SO thankful we walked into each other's lives

Thursday, August 30, 2007

I can't believe how fast the school week goes. It seems like I blinked and Friday is already here! Yikes! We are going out of town tomorrow...it was kind of a surprise for Mike's birthday (which is tomorrow). I wanted to take him up to visit Dan, Amanda, and our nieces. It will be nice to have a 3 day weekend. He originally said he would cover someone else's shift on Sun. but once I told him I wanted to take him up there, he thankfully, got someone else to cover the shift. We will be leaving Friday after school and coming back Monday afternoon. We can't take Jack, who would have loved to have another playdate with their golden retriever, Jackson, but their fence is not up yet! bummer! Dave will be hanging out here all weekend and watching him...thanks Dave! I have lots to do before we leave...finish things up here at home, and school, and pack! Augh! Gotta get to school....have a great day!

How old is too old??? Mike and I had this conversation yesterday as we were driving to their college soccer Alumni game in Greenville...We were talking about the "old" guys vs. the "young" guys. He remembers when he was still in college or right out of college and some of the "old" guys would come back and play and make a fool out of themselves because their bodies just couldn't play the way they used to anymore. Mike hasn't played soccer in over a year, in the past 4 months has only ran because of foot pursuits where dumb college kids think they can get away, but he has occasionally been on bike patrol for 8 hours a day, so hopefully that will help with his endurance! He was a little nervous about being the "old" guy there....and didn't want those college kids to see him (and his friends) as one either.

I do want to say that Mike, Ryan, Malone, (3 out of the Fab 4) and the other guys that he played college soccer with did a great job! They lost 3-1 but did move the ball better then the varsity college team. They looked like they had a great time out there and I am sure it brought back many fun college memories.

So my question is what age is too old to play?????? I think that if they can still run around, kick the ball, and not make a fool of themselves, then they can keep playing as long as your body will let it. What do you think???? Is there something that you used to do (it can be whatever)...but don't any more because you "feel too old?" What are your thoughts about growing up????

Saturday, August 25, 2007

I had a great first week back to school. We only had 1 full day, which was Tues. The rest were early release days. It was SO nice to be done around 1 pm and have 3 hours to plan, get things organized, make a newsletter, finish Friday folders, etc.... Our school does have window air conditioners, but the 2 jr. highs and 3 elem. schools do not have air! So...because they don't have air, when the temp. gets too high or the humidity with the heat index gets too high, everyone gets to have an early dismissal. I think those schools get out around 11ish and then the buses finish up the rest of the schools. My kids are so cute! I have 24 students and they are a great bunch of kids. Yesterday a few of the teachers and I went to Chevy's for a happy hour. It was nice to be able to hear their first week stories and just relax. We had a drink or two there and decided we wanted to hang out more...so I offered for them to come back to our house. We had a ton of beer left over from our summer bbq so we hung out on the back deck and then later when it started to rain, went inside. Mike came home and hung out with us too! It was a great night...and we even played Catchphrase! and yes Heather, I did get a little loud with the laughing at a couple of points! ha!
This afternoon we will be making our way to St. Louis and then will head over to Greenville for Mike's college soccer Alumni game. I think the weather is supposed to be a little bit cooler which will be nice for us watching the game too! I haven't really taken any pictures lately but hopefully I'll get some from today! Have a great day!

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

The first day has come and gone and I made it! It was a great day...kids great, parents great, great, great, great!!!! AND even more good news...tomorrow is an early release day because of the heat! yippee!!!!

2. Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of their middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had.

**IF you have already done your middle name than do the State that you live in with new adjectives!*****

3. When you are tagged you need to write your own blog-post containing your own middle name game facts. ***Or state if you have already been tagged before!***

4. At the end of your blog-post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag.

5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

My middle name is Michelle...here goes...

M:motivated...once I get something in my head...I have to either start it right away and finish or get some plans down to start it right away. I like pushing myself to do better and I don't like to wait! :)

E:easy going. I pretty much go with the flow and don't mind when plans change, etc.

L:laugh LOUDly...I get really embarrassed (even thought it doesn't always show), but I still love my loud, obnoxious laugh. Heather can attest to it...especially during the catch-phrase game. :)

L:lazy. Yes, I admit... I am lazy. I wish I had a housecleaner, cook, etc. b/c I don't like doing those things, so I always put it off. I would rather sit around with Mike or friends and talk. I do like getting motivated but NOT to do those things! I don't really like exercising unless it is for a team sport. I don't like exercising by myself.... :)

E:energetic. I (at least) usually have lots of energy to do things. Whether that is travelling, keeping my classroom activities interesting and exciting, or having energy to take pics/scrap/etc.

I am also not really sure how I can have energetic and lazy in the same description about me....but it is true! Weird!

Monday, August 20, 2007

'Twas the night before school...
'Twas the night before school starts,
and all through the house.
Not a creature was stirring,
not even a mouse.
The backpacks were packed,
and laid next to the door.
The shoes were all shiny,
lined up on the floor.
The girls they were snuggled,
asleep in their beds,
while visions of hair bows
danced through my head.
Then what to my wondering ears should resound,
but the buzz of the clock, ringing long, ringing loud.
On Kenzo, On Suzie,
On dear little Mabel.
Hop out of the bed,
and run to the table.
Gobble your breakfast,
then go brush your teeth.
Put on your shoes,
let's go hit the street.
And I heard them exclaim
as they ran off to school,
"when is vacation?
"I sure miss the pool."

Twas the Night Before School Started
Author: unknown
Twas the night before school started
when all through the town
the parents were cheering
it was a riotous sound.
By eight the kids were washed
and tucked into bed
when memories of homework
filled them with dread.
New pencils, new folders, new notebooks too,
new teachers, new friends, the anxiety grew.
The parents just giggled when they heard of this fright
and shouted upstairs-GO TO BED-IT'S A SCHOOL NIGHT!

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Mike and I were in O'Fallon all weekend to hang out with the Morrisons for Ryan's early bday party. We also got to meet some new friends, the Barczaks'! Heather set up a GREAT surprise 30th birthday party for friends and neighbors to help celebrate Ryan's big 3-0! Mike Malone took him out all afternoon and Heather had almost everyone here by the time they got here! Rodney and Gina were a tad late and were here a minute or two after the surprise. I think Mike L. stressed Heather out a little bit because Mike took our bags out of the car and then had to move the car down the street. After he parked the car he was getting out and was getting ready to talk to one of their neighbors and closed the car door....with the doors locked....AND the keys inside....WITH the car running! Augh!!!! So we called AAA and they were expected to arrive within 10-15 minutes of Ryan getting here. Luckily they came, got the keys out, and Ryan wasn't here yet! Throughout the night we enjoyed getting to know Ryan and Heather's neighbors, listening to Richard's jokes, seeing all the cute kiddos and babies, and hanging out with friends! What a great night!

Saturday I went to hang out at my parents house and the boys got to watch the kiddos at the Morrison's house. Nicole had 2 photo sessions today, so she and Heather were busy most of the day taking pics of a 2 week old and 6 week old Yuri . I eventually met up with them at the Malone's house for Yuri's pictures! She is TOO cute! We had dinner at Chick-Fil-A and then the boys went over to Mike and Erin's to help celebrate his bday (which is today) andNicole, Heather and I decided to update our blogs. Tomorrow the boys have their fantasy football draft which is, I guess, a BIG deal and I think we are going to scrapbook a little bit in the afternoon while that is going on.

Here are Nicole, Heather and I blogging Saturday night... this was the 6th try! ha!

Monday, August 13, 2007

Last night we had very strong winds...enough to make a lot of branches break from our huge trees. Mike was getting ready to leave for work this morning and said "When you get up...go look in the backyard." Obviously I was out of it because I replied "Why did it snow?! Is school cancelled?!" Ummm....Kase...it is August and about 100*!? What was I dreaming about? Ha! Here are some pics from the "wind storm."

Sunday, August 12, 2007

It has been a great 24 hours! I went to St. Louis yesterday, got to see the fam and hang out for awhile. Then, I met up with the Robertsons, Morrisons, and Swinigans and us girls went to go see Les Mis at the Muny. It was amazing! We had great seats...thanks Mom! We went out to eat at the Spaghetti Factory beforehand. We made it down there and had a couple of minutes to relax before the show started...which is a good thing because it is HOT!!! We had a great time talking about babies, dogs...and Amie's favorite: Ben's new favorite thing to do with their dog! ha! It was so great to be able to hang out with Heather and Amie, and also meet Heather S. whom I had never met before! yeah! new friends.... :) Ryan made his "famous" milkshakes for us all last night...but apparently forgot to sing the song that goes with it that he does/performs for Heather and also Nicole! ;) Great times

This morning I came back home and headed to my classroom to try to finish it up! I am almost done! yeah! You may remember those before pictures...and here are the "almost" after pics! So close to being done....I am GOING to finish it up tomorrow! woo-hoo!!!!

Friday, August 10, 2007

Finally I got the water proof camera pics developed from the float trip on Tues. We went with the Whitmire's, some friends (and their kids) from church, Mike's parents and Dave. We had a blast! It was so hot! There were some drunken people on the water and 1 really obnoxious man with his wife and kid, but overall it was a great, relaxing time! Enjoy the pics!